Liquid dispensing apparatus



P 1934. J. RETSEMA LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 4, 1934. J. RETSEMA LIQUID DfSPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20. 1931 Sept. 4, 1934. .1. RETSEMA LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 20, 1931 y r Jar P578501}? Sept. 4, 1934. J, RETSEMA LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 20. 1951 JUGl Y Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATIENT ice Station Equipment Company,

Conshohocken, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application February 20, 1931, Serial No. 517,229 V 14 Claims. (01. 221-95) My invention is particularly applicable to apparatus for dispensing lubricating grease or oil from a portable container, by means of a pump mechanism removably fitted in said container and having a flexible dispensing hose provided with a nozzle adapted to detachably interlock with a lubricating fitting on an automobile during the dispensing operation. As ordinarily constructed and arranged, it is possible for an operator to empty the container during the dispensing operation without becoming aware of that fact and, consequently, to thereafter continue to operate the pump without actually dispensing any lubricant. As such -5 pumps are provided with registering mechanism purporting to show the volume of lubricant dispensed in accordance with the operation of the pump; such idle operation of the pump causes the registering mechanism to manifest a false indication of the amount of lubricant dispensed.

Therefore, an essential feature of my invention is the provision of locking means which is automatically operative to stop and prevent the operation of the pump and the registering mechanism connected therewith, if and when the container is emptied.

As hereinafter described, my invention includes a lock'mgdevice which is carried by the pump and in rigid relation with a cover fitted to serve 39 as a temporary removable closure for a succession of similar containers; which locking device is controlled by means including a float which is normally supported by the lubricant in the q; container slightly above the bottom of'the latter to hold the locking device in unlocked position until the float is lowered by the withdrawal of the lubricant from the container until the latter is emptied; whereupon, the locking device is tripped into engagement by the subsidence of said float to the bottom of the container. Such locking device maybe unlocked to free the pump rom operation by simply recharging the container with lubricant and thereby uplifting the A5 float to its normal position, but is not otherwise under the control of the operator. Moreover, the

registering mechanism is continually maintained in operative relation with the pump mechanism,

so that it 'is impossible for the operator to effeet any dispensation without registering the same.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction'and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig. I is a plan view of liq uid dispensing apparatus conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. II is an elevation of saidapparatus, as seen from the lower side of Fig. I, with the .lubricant container mountedupon a wheel truck.

Fig. III is a fragmentary plan sectional View, taken on the line III, III in Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary elevation of the pump with the locking mechanism fixed thereon, as seen from the upper side of Fig. I, but on a larger scale. 1

Fig. V is an elevation of the locking mechanism as seen from the right hand side of Fig, IV.

Fig. VI is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line VI, VIinFig. I-but on the same scale as Figs. IV and V, showing the pump and lock mechanism, partly in elevation.

Fig. VII is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the lock mechanism, taken on the lines VII in Figs. I and VI, but on the same scale as the latter. 1

Fig. VIII is a plan sectional view of the lock and pump mechanism, taken on the lines VIII in Figs. IV and V, showing the movable parts of'the lock mechanism in locked position. I

Fig. IX is a plan sectional view of the lock mechanism shownin Fig. VIII but with the movable parts thereof in unlocked position.

Fig. X is a vertical sectional view of the lock casing,*taken on the line X, X in Fig. VIIIbut showing the locking bolt and the pumpshaft, which it engages, in elevation.

The container 1, shown in Fig. II, is an open topped cylindrical sheet metal vessel with annular corrugations 2 pressed therein to stiffen it. .Said container 1 is conveniently rendered readily portable by supporting it upon the flange 3 of the truck frame 4 which is supported by a pair of wheels 5 having the axle 6 in said frame. Said container 1 is temporarily'closed atits upper end by the removable cover '7 which has the downwardly turned rim Soverhanging the .top edge 9 of the container so that said covermay not be displaced laterally with respect-to said container. Said cover has the keeper plate 10 conveniently fixed thereon by the rivets 11 shown in Fig. I and said plate has the'upwardly extending flange 12 which, as shown 'in- Fig. II, is adapt-- ed to be engaged by the hook block 13 which. is carried by the bolt 14in said truck frame 4 and 105 adjustably secured by the wing nut 15 and the lock washer 16 shown in Fig. II, with the veifect of rigidly clamping said container and its cover in closed position on said truck frame.

Said removable cover I carries the entire pump casing 20 in engagement with the gear 27 on the Y crank shaft 28 which is journaledin the'bearings 30 and 31 in said casing 20 and adapted to be turned by the crank handle 32.

.As shown in Fig. III, said shaft 28 is operatively connected with the registering mechanism 34, including the rotary index hand 35 whichis adapted to be turned by rotation of said shaft 28 to traverse the scale of graduations 36 on the dial 37 which is held stationary on said frame 20, conveniently by the pin 37 shown inFig. III. Each of said graduations on said dial may conveniently'indicate a pint of liquid dispensed, by the operation of said pump structure, thru the upward tubular extension 38 of said frame 20 and the flexible hose 39. As shown in Fig. II, said hose has the nozzle 40 at its discharge end with a projection 41 for interlocking engagement with the lubricating fitting into which the lubricant is to be dispensedand said nozzle has the loop 42 adapted for engagement with the hook 43 on the top of said pump casing extension 38, to support said nozzle and hose in inoperative position.

As shown in Figs. VIII, IX, and X, said crank shaft 28 carries, rigidly secured thereon, the collar 45 having the notch 48 for engagement with the lock bolt 47 to stop and prevent rotation of said shaft 28 and consequent false indication of dispensation of liquid, by rotation of said shaft when said container 1 is empty. Said collar 45 and said bolt 47 and the locking mechanism for actuating the latter are inclosed in the lock casing comprising the two members 48 and 49. As indicated in'Fig. V, said lock casing member 48 is rigidly connected with said pump casing 20 by three screws respectively 50, 51, and 52. As shown in Fig. X and indicated in Fig. IV, said lock casing member 49 is rigidly connected with the casing member 48 by two screws 53 so as to encircle and inclose said collar 45 as shown in Figs. VIII, IX, and X. As shown in Figs. VIII, IX, and X, said lock bolt 47 is a flat piece of metal mounted to reciprocate, parallel with the-axis of said crank shaft 28, in the slide bearing 55 in said lock casing member 48 and has the groove 56 in its lower surface, extending parallel with said shaft 28 and in engagement with the guide screw 57*shown in Fig. X and indicated in Figs. VIII and IX.

Said lock bolt 47 is carried by the rod 59, in V 7 shown in Figs. VIII and IX, said cam frame 62 is mounted to slide, parallel with'said crank shaft 28, between the bearing 66 in said lock casing member 48 and in the bearing 67 in the plate 68 which is detachably but rigidly connected with said casing 48 by the three screws 70, as indicated in Figs. VI and VII.

As shown in Figs. VII, VIII, and IX, said cam frame 62 has similar inclined slots 72 in its opposite walls thru which extends the cross bar 73, the ends of which are fitted to slide vertically in the channel 74 in said bearing 66 and in the channel 75 in said bearing 67. Said-cross bar is carried in the head 76 of the float rod 77 which is detachably rigidly connected at its lower end with the hollow annular float 79, conveniently by the cotter pin 80, as shown in Fig. VI and indicated in Fig. II.

The construction and arrangement above described are such that when said float 79 is upheld by liquid lubricant in the container 1 to the position shown in Fig. II; said head 76 on the float rod 77 carries the cross bar 73 to the top of said slots 72 and thereby withdraws the cam frame 62 to the right as shown in Fig. IX, in

which position it is normally detained by the detent lug 811 which projects from said lock bolt 47 into the notch 82 in the latch lever 83 which is fulcrumed at 84 in saidlock casing 48 and continually pressed toward said detent by the spring 85.

However, when said float 79 is permitted to subside by the withdrawal of the lubricant which normally uplifts it, as above described; said cross bar 73 is drawn down by the weight of said float, thereby thrusting said cam frame 62 to the left in Figs. VIII and IX compressing said spring 65 until the tripping projection 87 on said frame rides up the incline 88 on said latch lever 83 and thrusts said lever out of engagement with the detent 81 on the lock bolt 47, with the effect of thrusting the latter into the notch 46 in said collar 45, as shown in Figs; VIII and X, if said notch happens to then be in registry with said bolt. However, if said notch 46 is not presented in registry with said bolt 47, at the instant the latch 83 is tripped; the spring 65 presses said bolt 47 against the collar 45 until the notch is presented in registry therewith, and then snaps said bolt into said notch; thus stopping the rotation of the crank shaft 28 and preventing further rotation thereof until the container 1 is recharged with sufiicient lubricant to uplift said float 79 to the position shown in Fig. II; whereupon, the lock bolt 47 is again withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. IX to permit said shaft 28 to be rotated.

Of course, if said latch lever 83 were omitted, the other elements of the locking device'would eifect locking of the crank shaft 28 to prevent its rotation but such locking might be effected before the containerwas entirely emptied, because, as shown in Fig. IX, the locking bolt 47 is normally held but a short distance away from the collar 45 and, with the latch omitted, would be thrust against said collar at the beginning of the down- Ward movement of the float 79. Said latch lever insures that the locking bolt 47 shall not be engaged in the notch 46 of the collar 45 until the float 79 has subsided to apredetermined extent.

Moreover, altho I'prefer to connect said float with the locking bolt by the slide cam means .The apparatus above described may be operated as follows: The truck shown in Fig. II'may be grasped by thehandle at the upper end and tilted downward to the left and used to wheel the container from a service station to an automobile. The apparatus being then set upright as shown in Fig. II and the nozzle 40 released from engagement with the hook 43, as shown in said figure; the projection 41 on said nozzle may be interlocked with a lubricating fitting on the automobile and lubricant dispensed into said fitting by rotation of the crank handle 32. Of course, as the pump mechanism and registering mechanism are continually operatively connected, as above described, it is impossible for the operator to effect any dispensation without registering it, for rotation of said handle and shaft 28 operates the registering mechanism to indicate by the rotary position of the index hand 35 with respect to the graduations 36 on the dial 37, the volume of lubricant dispensed, and altho neither the operator nor, the customer may see the lubricant actually dispensed; false indication of dispensation of the lubricant is prevented by the locking means above described, which is also continually operatively related to the pump mechanism and automatically operative, without the volition of the operator. In other words, the operator cannot prevent the operation of the registering mechanism whenever any dispensing movement of the pump is effected, nor the operation of the lmking mechanism when there is no liquid available to be dispensed.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a lubricant container; of a pump in cooperative relation with said container, including a rotary shaft, for withdrawing lubricant from i said container and dispensing it through said pump upon rotation of said shaft; locking means for automatically stopping and preventing rotation of said shaft, if and when the lubricant is exhausted from said container; and means for continually maintaining said locking means in cooperative relation with said pump means; whereby, when the container is empty, the operator is apprised of that fact, and operation of said pump continually prevented until said container is charged with liquid in position to be dispensed by said pump, said locking means including a member adapted to engage said shaft, a float continually operatively connected with said shaft engaging member and adapted to normally hold it in disengaged position by flotation of said float upon liquid in said container, and to cause said shaft engaging member to automatically engage said shaft by lowering movement of said float, as the liquid is exhaustedfrom said container, and a cam between said float and said shaft engaging member, adapted to automatically engage and disengage the latter with respect to said shaft, in accordance with the position of float, independently of control by the operator.

2. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a lubricant container; of a pump in cooperative relation with said container, including a rotary shaft, for withdrawing lubricant from said container and dispensing it through said pump upon rotation of said shaft; locking means for automatically stopping and preventing rotation of said shaft; if and when the lubricant is exhausted from said container; and means. for continually maintaining said locking means in cooperative relation with said pump means; whereby, when the container is empty, the operator is apprised of that fact, and operation of said pump continually prevented until saidcon- .tainer is charged with liquid in position to be dispensed by said'pump, said locking means includinga slide bolt adapted to engage said shaft,

and 'a float continually operatively connected with said slide bolt and adapted to normally hold it in disengaged position by flotation of said float upon liquid in said container, and to cause said slide bolt to automatically engage said shaft by lowering movement of said float, as the liquid is,

exhausted from said container, and a slide cam cooperatively connected with said slide bolt and float. 3. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a lubricant container; of a pump in cooperative relation with said container, including a rotary shaft, for withdrawing lubricant from said container and dispensing it through said pump upon rotation of said shaft; locking means folflautomatically stopping and preventing rotation of said shaft, if and when the lubricant is exhausted from said container; and means for continually maintaining said-locking means in cooperative relation with said pump means; whereby, when the container is empty, theoperator is apprised of that fact, and operation of said pump continually prevented until said container is charged with liquid in position to be dispensed by said pump, said locking means including a member adapted to engage said shaft, a float operatively connected with said shaft engaging member and adapted to normally hold it in disengaged position by flotation of said float upon liquid in said container, andto cause said shaft engaging member to automatically engage said shaft by lowering movement of said float, as the liquid is exhausted from said container; the connecting means operatively connected with said shaft including a spring between said float and shaft engaging member; whereby saidshaft engaging member is automatically spring pressed toward its engaged position by.movement of said float; detent means normally restraining said spring from effecting the engagement of said shaft by said member; and releasing means for said detent means adapted to be automatically operated by movement of said float, independent ly of control by the operator.

4. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a lubricant container; of a pump in cooperative relation with said container, including a rotary shaft, for withdrawing lubricant from said container and dispensing it through said pump upon rotation of said shaft; locking means for automatically stopping and preventing rotation of said shaft, if and when the lubricant is exhausted from said container; and means for continually maintaining said locking means in cooperative relation with. said pump means; whereby, when the container is empty, the operator isapprised of that fact, and operation of said pump continually prevented until said container is charged with liquid'in position to be dispensed by said pump, said liquid dispensing apparatus including a registering mechanism operatively connected with said shaft and including means adapted to continually manifestthe quantity of lubricant dispensed, :in accordance with the ro-' as I tation of said shaft; whereby false indication of the quantity dispensed is automatically prevented by said locking means preventing movement of said registering mechanism when the lubricant is exhausted from said container.

5. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a pump including a rotary shaft, and means adapted to dispense liquid through said pump upon rotation of said shaft; .of locking means continually adapted .to automatically stop and prevent rotation of said shaft, if and when the supply of liquid to be pumped is exhausted, said locking means including a membercontinually adapted to engage said shaft, and a float continually operatively connected with said shaft engaging member and continually adapted to normally hold it in disengaged position by flotation of said float upon the liquid to be dispensed, andto cause said shaft engaging memher to automatically engage said shaft by lowering movement of said float, as the supply ofliquid to be dispensed is exhausted.

'6. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a pump including a rotary shaft, and means adapted to dispense liquid through said pump upon rotation of said shaft; of locking means continually adapted to automatically stop and prevent rotation of said shaft, if and when the supply of liquid to be pumped is exhausted, said locking means including an annular flange carried by said shaft and having a notch in its periphery; and a slide bolt continually adapted to reciprocate parallel with the axis of said shaft, to and from engagement in said notch.

7. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a pump including a rotary shaft, and means adapted to dispense liquid through said pump upon rotation of said shaft; of locking means continually adapted to automatically stop and prevent rotation of said shaft, if and when the supply of liquid to be pumped is exhausted, said locking means including an annular flange carried by said shaft and having a notch in its periphery; and a slide bolt continually adapted to reciprocate parallel with the axis of said shaft, to and from engagement in said notch; and means cooperatively connected. with said bolt, adapted to reciprocate it, including a float; said locking means being continually maintained automatically operative independently of the control of the operator, and releasable only by renewing the supply of liquid to be pumped.

8. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a lubricant container, of a pump in cooperative relation with said container, including a rotary shaft for withdrawing lubricant from said container and dispensing it through said pump upon rotation of said shaft, locking means for automatically stopping and preventing rotation of said shaft if and when the lubricant is exhausted from said container, means for continually maintaining said locking means in cooperative relation with said pump means, whereby when the container-is empty the operator is apprised of that fact and operation ofsaid pump is continually prevented until said container is charged with liquid in position to be dispensed by said pump, said locking means including a member continually adapted to automatically engage said shaft, and a float operatively connected with said shaft engaging member and adapted to normally hold it in its disengaged position by flotation of said float upon liquid in said container and to cause-said shaft engaging member to engage said shaft by lowering movement of said float as the liquid is exhausted from the container and continually prevent rotation of said shaft until the container is charged with liquid in position to be dispensed by said pump.

9. In a liquid'dispensing apparatus, the combination with a'lubricant container, of a pump in cooperative relation with saidcontainer, including a rotary shaft for withdrawing lubricant from said containerand dispensing it through said pump upon rotation of said shaft, locking means for automatically stopping and preventing rotation of said shaft if and when the lubricant is exhausted from said container, means for continually maintaining said locking means in cooperative relation with said pump means whereby when the container is empty theioperator is apprised of that fact and the operation of said pump is continually prevented until said container is charged'with liquid iniposition to be dispensed by said pump, said locking means including a member adapted to engage said shaft, and a float continually operatively connected with said shaft engaging member and adapted to hold it in disengaged position by flotation of said-float upon liquid in said container and to cause said shaft engaging member to automatically engage said shaft by lowering movement of said float as the liquid is exhaustedifrom said container, and a member between said float and said shaft engaging member and adapted to automatically disengage the latter with respect to said shaft in accordance with the position of said float and independently of control by the operator.

10. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the com bination with a lubricant container, of a pump in cooperative relation with said container, including a rotary shaft for withdrawing lubricant from said container and dispensing it through said pump upon rotation of said shaft, locking means for automatically stopping and preventing rotation of said shaft if and when the lubricant is exhausted from said container, means for continually maintaining said locking means in cooperative relation with said pump means, whereby when the container is empty the operator is apprised of that fact and operation of said pump is continually prevented until said container is charged with liquid in position to be dispensed by said pump, said locking means including a member adapted to engage said shaft andnormally constrained toward shaft engagement, a float operatively connected with said shaft engaging member adapted to normally hold it in disengaged position by flotation of said float upon liquid in said container and to cause said shaft engaging member to automatically engage said shaft by lowering movement of said float as. the liquid is exhausted from said container, said shaftengaging member being automatically urged toward shaft engaging position and automatically effective to cause shaft engagement by movement of said float correspond-- ing to exhaustion of the container contents and independently of control by the operator.

11. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, thecombination with a lubricant container, of a pump in cooperative relation with said container, includ-- tinually maintaining said locking means in cooperative relation with said pump means, whereby when the container is empty the operator is apprised of that fact and operation of said pump is continually prevented until said container is charged with liquid in position to be dispensed by said pump, and a registering mechanism operatively connected with said shaft and including means adapted to continually manifest the quantity of liquid dispensed in accordance with the rotation of said shaft whereby false indication of the quantity dispensed is automatically prevented by said locking means, preventing movement of said registering mechanism when the lubricant is exhausted from said container.

12. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a pump including a rotary shaft, and means adapted to dispense liquid through said pump upon rotation of said shaft, of looking means continually adapted to automatically stop and prevent rotation of said shaft if and when the supply of liquid to be pumped is ex hausted, said locking means including a member continually adapted to engage said shaft, and a float continually operatively connected with said shaft engaging member continually adapted to normally hold it in disengaged position by fiotation of said float upon the liquid to be dispensed and to cause said shaft engaging member to automatically engage said shaft by lowering movement of said float as the supply of liquid to be dispensed is exhausted.

13. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a pump including a rotary shaft, and means adapted to dispense liquid through said pump upon rotation of said shaft, of looking means continually adapted to automatically stop and prevent rotation of said shaft if and when the supply of liquid to be pumped is exhausted, said locking means including a member continually adapted to engage said shaft, and a float continually operatively connected with said shaft engaging member continually adapted to normally hold it in disengaged position by flotation of said float upon the liquid to be dispensed and to cause said shaft engaging member to automatically engage said shaft by lowering movement of said float as the supply of liquid to be dispensed is exhausted, and a cover for said container constituting the sole support for said pump and its appurtenances, said locking means including a float carried by said cover and adapted to reciprocate vertically beneath it, and means cooperatively connecting said float with said locking means continually and adapted to lock and unlock said shaft in accordance with the position of said float independently of the control of the operator.

14. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a lubricant container, of a pump in cooperative relation with said container, including a shaft for withdrawing lubricant from said container and dispensing it through said pump on rotation of said shaft, locking means for automatically stopping and preventing rotation of said shaft, if and when the lubricant is exhausted from said container, and means for continually maintaining said locking means in cooperative relation with said pump means whereby when the container is empty the operator is apprised of that fact and operation of said pump continually prevented until said container is charged with liquid in position to be dispensed by said pump, said locking means including a member continually adapted to engage said shaft and a float continually operatively con'- nected with said shaft engaging member and continually adapted to normally hold it in disengaged position by flotation of said float upon the liquid to be dispensed and to cause said shaft engaging member to automatically engage said shaft by lowering movement of said float as the supply of liquid to be dispensed is exhausted.

JAY RETSEMA. 

